Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-08
CHRISTIANITY.
One Form of 1t Exhibited At n Meeting in
Chicago.

Chicago.
CHICAGO, March An extraordinary
scene took place at the weekly meeting of
the Congressional Ministers this morning
A topic which came up was the sickness
from which Henry Ward Beecher is be-
lieved to be dying, and the statement of
some of the pastors present took the shape
of resolution of coincidence which it was
proposed to be sent to Mrs. Beecher by
telegraph. This was opposed by num-
Der of ministers, the opposition being
based on the alleged heterOdaxy of Mr..
BecCher's view regarding future salvation
and punishment. An acrimonious debate
ensued and finally the motion TO adopt the
resolutions was lost. Great excitement
prevailed and the utmost efforts We're made
TO keep the affair from the newspapers.
The resolutions were offered by Rev. Il.
+. Williams of South Church. The prin-
cipal ground for opposition was Mr. Beech
er's views ON the future state, and DIR. L.
p. Goodwin among Others, contended that
if the meeting, as body, sent resolutions
Of coincidence to the dying preacher their
action might he construed into an express
sion of opinion favorable to his theological
sentiments. This was not the only attack
made, however. One minister arose and
stated that he would not extend sympathy
to man who was charged with immortality
and had never cleared himselfO the charge.
The friends of Mr.. Beecher hotly attacked
the speaker who had alluded TO the scandal.
The resolution, when put TO an informal
vote, received a majority, but was with
drawn by the prOpOSer, who asserted that
il would be in bad taste 10 send resOlu-
tiOns that We're not unanimous.
The Rev. f. p Goodwin, who opposed
the resolution, refused 10 make public his
reasons further than that he did not coin
eide with Mr. Beecher on matters OF
theology at won't do to make this mat
ter public" Mr.. Goodwin said. IL wish
the resolutions had never been offered,
or that I had not been there; but
once they were opposed, and
was present, it was my duty to
speak against them. Mr. Beecher and the
majority of Congregational ministers did
not agree on certain questions and those OF
us who opposed the resolutions felt that ii
passed they would place us before the pub.
lie in the light of sympathizers with
Beecher'S views. Unnecessary will make
public at future time all my reasons for
opposing the measure. But l can't tell
now. i know too much and many facts
have come into my family. Mr. Beecher's 5
brother is a member Of my church,
Prof. G. Il. Wilcox, who favored the
resolutions, said: 81 was deeply chagrined
and mortified by the talk of certain minis
terS. Mr.. Beecher is member Of the
Congregational body in good standing, and
there was no reason for withholding SYM
pathy to his wife in her bereavement.
The Rev. S. ]. Humphrey, the chairman
of the Congregational Ministers Association
and the secretary of the American Board
Of Foreign Missions, said: ''Oh, we have
decided not to make the matter public and
don't care to say anything 10 the papers
about it,
On being informed that the papers knew
all about il already, he vouchsafed the in
formation that at the meeting the ministers
had decided TO send a dispatch of sympa-
thy TO Mrs. Beecher, but that the question
Ildu Dcell TalStt IL1t SUCH dCllOu might OOt
lie advisable, as the expression of sympa-
thy might be construed into an endorse
ment of Mr.. Beecher's views, some OF
which were not all those of the COngrega-
tiOnal denomination. 80" he continued,
when the question of sending the mes.
sage was brought up no plan was adopted
and the matter was quietly and rather in
formally dropped"
The Rev. J. c. Armstrong, the Superin'
tendent OF City Missions, said that while
all the ministers were in sympathy with
Mrs. Beecher in her afflictiOn, they did not
care to take any action that could be con-
strued into an Endorsement of her husband
views.
The Rev. J. f Roy was seen: II was
present at the Congregational ministers
meeting this morning and voted for the
proposed telegram of sympathy TO Mr..
Beecher, although do not like his theO'
logical views. A message of that character
could not do any harm. would prefer
not to talk about the matter at all